Smartphones, televisions, computers, touch tablets… So many everyday objects that we find in professional and personal life. But excessive use of screens can impact children’s behavior. At least this is the observation made by parents and health professionals in the second *barometer of the Foundation for Children and Ifop on the impact of screens on the development of young children.
During the presentation of the results to the Ministry of Health on February 1, 2024, Catherine Vautrin, Minister of Labor, Health and Solidarity, recalled that currently, the average screen time for a two year old child is 56 minutes and amounts to 1h20 for children of three and a half years. A finding “alarming”, and the minister to recall that it is a “major public health issue”. In the survey, published ahead of Safer Internet Day, which will take place on February 6, “71% of parents report negative repercussions of exposure to screens on their child’s behavior.”
Irritability, attention disorder: the negative effects of screens on children noted by parents
To carry out this survey, Ifop questioned 602 parents and 300 early childhood professionals, including 200 midwives and 100 childcare nurses. In this panel, 64% of parents noted a negative effect of their child’s use of a screen and 96% of parents believe that screen use impacts their child’s development. In addition, one in two parents notice negative consequences of their own use of screens on their child.
According to the survey, among parents who have noted a negative impact of screens on their child, 52% note behavioral problems, such as anger, irritability or even aggressiveness. 36% note attention disorders and 33% notice sleep problems such as excessive fatigue. Likewise, 22% note a negative effect on language and 22% on hyperactivity.
However, 56% of parents “tend to underestimate the impact of their own practices on this development (56%)”, which impacts their practice, believe the authors.
Excessive use of screens by parents can harm the relationship with their child
The barometer also looked at parents’ habits regarding screens. 48% say they use it strictly and controlled. On the other hand, 40% of parents admit to being overwhelmed. 98% of healthcare professionals who make home visits have already noticed screens on in the background, “without anyone really looking at them”. Likewise, 95% have already noticed parents on their phone while taking care of their child. 92% also noted excessive screen use by children in their practice. Finally, 93% have witnessed parents not calming their child using only a screen.
Specialists believe that use excessive screen use among parents can have harmful consequences for children. In fact, 98% think that it can harm the parent’s relationship with their child. The same percentage of professionals believe that it can harm At child development. Finally, 97% think that it can harm a parent’s first interactions with their child and the quality of attachment, during breastfeeding for example.
What can be done to reduce children’s screen time?
According to the barometer figures, “Half of parents seem ready to review some of their practices to avoid overexposure of their child, in particular by establishing shared activity time without screen (56%)”. Another solution put forward by 51% of parents is that to turn off the TV during the meal or, for 47% of parents, looking at their phone when their child is not present. Finally, 19% want to turn off notifications and 5% to turn off their phone at their home.
However, “7 out of 10 professionals surveyed believe that parents are not sufficiently informed about the stages of young child development (72%), and more precisely about the impacts of digital technology on them (68%).” write the authors.
*The survey was conducted among a sample of 602 parents, representative of parents of children aged 0 to 6 years / The survey was conducted among a sample of 200 midwives and 100 childcare nurses, representative midwives and childcare workers
Sources:
- Comments collected during the press presentation: “The Children’s Foundation unveils the results of the 2nd cross barometer between parents and early childhood professionals on the impact of digital technology on the development of ‘young children’, 02/01/ 2024
- The impact of digital technology on children aged 0 to 6 – Wave 2 – Ifop Fondation pour l’Enfance